Turkey is enduring its most severe drought in over five decades, with the Naip Dam in Tekirdağ province falling to zero capacity in August due to a drastic 95% drop in July rainfall in the Marmara region. This unprecedented dry spell has left many households without water for weeks, compelling authorities to implement emergency measures such as redirecting irrigation water for domestic use, drilling new wells, and constructing pumping systems to maintain urban water supply. The drought’s impact extends beyond Tekirdağ, affecting other provinces like Izmir and Uşak, where residents face daily water cuts and limited access.
Experts attribute the crisis to climate change and warn that Turkey is at high risk of desertification, with 88% of its land facing desertification risk. The United Nations has categorized Turkey as a “water-stressed” nation, and current trends suggest it may fall into the “water-poor” category by 2030. This shift would mean that nearly 80% of the population and farmland could be exposed to severe drought risks, potentially affecting millions of livelihoods. More